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MindManager Add-In Contest Winners

I’d like to announce the winners for the contest, but first I should apologize for the delay in getting these out. The day the contest ended I began a week long trip to Fire Island, and right when I got back, I began my job at Google. The good news is that I can now offer some cooler Googley prizes to the winners.

First prize - A Google Lava Lamp and A Google T-Shirt - Goes to awam for Multiple User Mode

Multiple user mode. Allowing group brainstorming/development over network/internet. Real time manipulation of a single mindmap from multiple clients.

Oh Crack

I’m at my friends house, doing my Statics homework like a good boy. I flip by screen around and ever so gently tap the pepper shaker and my screen cracks. Actually, it’s just the plastic on top of my screen that cracked. It’s still usable, but now it has a hairline crack going through one corner.

I called up my good friends at Central Telecom, down in Lone Tree, Colorado:

On the road again…

It’s FINALLY that time of year where I get to go home from my internship, meaning I’ve been busy the last week wrapping things up at work and this current week I’m busy packing and moving (it’s a two-day drive home).

I promise I didn’t forget about the site now that it’s all shiny and new. I would just rather have less-frequent quality posts than quick 5 minute posts simply to have something new every day (I tried those and I don’t like them…not my style).

Last Day to Enter MindManager Add-Ins Contest

Today is the last day to enter the MindManager Add-Ins contest. To enter just submit your ideas for add-ins you’d like to see in MindManager. I’ll pick 3 of my favorites and those posters will receive some cool Google swag. Entries need to be posted by 12PM Noon Pacific Time to be considered. Please post them to the comments section of this post.

Also if you are a mind mapper, I’d encourage you take Chuck Frey’s survey on how you use mind mapping. The actual survey is here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=832072453007. You can read about Chuck’s reasons for the survey here: http://mindmapping.typepad.com/themindmappingsoftware/2006/08/pleaseshare_yo.html

Tablets in Israel: Do unsupported languages cause note-taking problems?

Article By Sharon Shaked

This article is directed mainly to those of us who live in countries that use languages that are not supported by the “ink to text conversion” process. It is a small comparison between the market’ leading note-taking applications: Agilix GoBinder 2006 (SP2) and Microsoft OneNote 2007 (BETA).

Please consider the BETA status of the Microsoft product tested! (ON 2007 BETA was tested as I believe it is wrong to compare OneNote 2003 to GoBinder 2006).

The root of the problem with unsupported languages lies in the fact that the process (same process as it is the responsibility of the OS to translate your ink) doesn’t understand the inker. I believe it is the cause for: (all compared to inking in English)

1. More CPU usage.
2. Result of 1: Tablet becomes hotter.
3. Result of 1: Battery lasts shorter.
4. Result of 1 & 2: Fan works harder, making more noise in class.

I tested by sitting in algebra lessons (remember? Matrix…?), writing 3 extra long pages. Just for general info, the test was made on:

• my LG-LT20 convertible tablet
• Processor: Intel 1.7 2MB cache
• RAM 333Mhz: 1 GB + 256 MB = 1280 MB.

Free ritePen or Evernote Plus

Well, I’m 248 pages through the first book and I found scanning is a good time to catch up on podcasts. While listening to MobileTechRoundup (with JK, Kevin, and now Matt), I heard about a way to get ritePen or EverNote Plus from EverNote.com simply by submitting a handwriting sample.

EverNote is a notes program that is centered around dates and categories (it’s pretty cool) and ritePen is a program that lets you write anywhere on the screen and improves handwriting recognition (check out MoTR #61 for more details).

BTW, MobileTechRoundup is in the 5 finalists for the Podcast Awards, so go out and give them your support!

MindManager Add-ins Contest Extended

With all the commotion of moving to the new, very pretty, site, the mini contest for MindManager add-ins got lost in the mix. So I am giving you all another week to pick your brains for add-ins you might like to see in MindManager. They can very practical or completely out there.

Top 3 add-ins will receive some lovely Google swag in the way of mouse pads, notebooks, pens, stickers, things with LEDs on them, a watch, etc. I have a lot of Google stuff. There might be a copy of MindManager in the works for the first prize winner.

Let the scanning begin

As comes the end of summer, so comes the beginning of scanning. Are those of us who partake in this endless task of scanning book after book mad? Insane? Bored? Without a social life? OK, possibly, HOWEVER, we have our reasons.

Right now I am sitting in an apartment, far away from family and friends, in a town where the only place to hang-out is Subway, and the word “wireless” has yet to reach the local’s ears.

I do NOT want to spend time that I’m at home around family and friends working longer than I need to on homework or studying, or huddled in my room with the scanner by my side on a Friday night. Scanning and OCR-ing my books allows me to be more productive during the school year. So what if it means I spend the day or two flipping pages and pressing scan. The benefits of 1000+ pages of searchable text, the freedom of studying whenever and where ever I get a chance, and extra mobility I gain by dropping about 30 lbs of books is WELL worth the effort.

Not only does scanning my books let me have more free time later, but that free time means that if I need to, I can spend more time studying when it counts. If I have a test that’s freaking me out, if I have homework due in thirty minutes, if I have a class that is INSANE, I can get more studying done in less time because I’m well organized and ready for action.

No, scanning doesn’t save you time in the long run (unless you have a really fast scanner), but it saves you time when it matters most. That’s all I’m trying to say here.

My next couple posts will likely be on scanning and digital books because that’s what I’m currently messing with. I have two books right now, one that’s 750 pages and one that’s 900 pages. I’m guessing with my way of scanning (OpticBook + Acrobat) that will be about 8-10 hours of work. Not too shabby, but still quite the effort ^_^.

Motion Computing gets two thumbs up for service

I know it has a little to do with the fact that I have a blog and I can pulblicly complain if something goes wrong, but not only did Motion notice the small review I posted on the LE1600, but when I mentioned my extended battery wasn’t working, they put me through to a tech support contact right away. Within a day (through e-mail) we had the problem diagnosed and now I have a test battery on the way. If it works fine, it will just act as my replacement. Great! There’s definitely something to be said about smaller companies and personal service.

I still have a little trouble getting my tablet to charge sometimes, but since it does charge 80% of the time (and 100% if I use the convertible keyboard), I can definitely live with it until I have a chance to send my tablet in without missing it.

Speaking of, John Hill at Allegiance Technology Partners e-mailed me about a new program they were starting where you can get your tablet fixed (under warranty) in one day through them even if you didn’t buy it at Alltp.com for only $95 and the cost of shipping. That’s a pretty nice deal if you desperately need your tablet fixed quickly, as you can overnight it there and back and only be without it for a few days. Pricey, but may be worth it during finals ^_^. It’s what I’ll likely do to fix the charging problem.

Two neat finds at Barnes & Noble

I love looking around Barnes & Noble. Something about all those books and all of them brand new still is just cool to me, even if they are non-digital books. My last visit I picked up two neat finds: one for a student, one for anyone trying to succeed.

The first is a SparkChart titled “Study Tactics” ($4.95 USD or a free download here). Like all those little binder insert quick references, it is chalk full of information on note-taking, organizing, reading, discussions, references, exam prep, test-taking, focusing, and planning. Even if you know everything on the chart, it’s a great motivational pick-me-up when you REALLY don’t feel like doing that homework assignment. It’s also a great way to start off the semester on the right foot. 

Find #2 was a book/course by Napoleon Hill titled Law of Success. It is HUGE and $35 USD, but a great read. It goes into detail on seventeen lessons tried an true of successful people and is full of motivational stories and quotes (kinda like Chicken Soup for the Super Successful CEO). For those who enjoy scientific reasoning on why things are how they are, this is the “How to be Successful” book for you. It’s not boring either, which was surprising for me. 

I tried to find an e-version of both of these with no luck yet, but I’ll keep trying. At least the SparkChart would be easy to scan or keep in your backpack.

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